Spoiler-Free Review of “Anatomy of a Scandal” on Netflix: A Guilty Pleasure Binge-Watch with a Twist

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“It meant nothing…”

Anatomy of a Scandal is a new limited series drama from Big Little Lies creator, David E. Kelley. It released on April 15th 2022 on Netflix with all six episodes available to watch now. The series stars Sienna Miller, Rupert Friend, Naomi Scott, and Michelle Dockery. Each episode runs for approximately 44-48 minutes.

When a scandalous secret comes to light, Parliamentary Minister, James Whitehouse is put on trial, as he risks losing his job, his family, and the respect of the people.

Here is the trailer:

Anatomy of a Scandal will remind you of shows like The Undoing and Big Little Lies, but it manages to tell a new story of its own with powerful performances. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Addicting with a twist I did not see coming!

I love David E. Kelley shows, but I didn’t know if I would like this one based on the premise. I started the series Saturday morning and quickly finished it within one day because it was very easy to binge-watch and I had to know what happened next with each episode.

We also got this twist that I did not see coming. If you’re looking for your next guilty-pleasure binge-watch, you’re in the right place.

Fantastic cast.

I thought that everyone really played their part well. I liked all of the actors in this series and I was drawn in more because of their performances. Some of the scenes were a little over-the-top but I sort of expected that with this type of series. Plus, Sienna Miller’s wardrobe was incredible!

The Cons:

Weird slow-motion camera views and silly dialogue at times…

I didn’t really get the slow-motion falls throughout this series. I think that they almost glossed over the real reactions and emotions we were seeing, which wasn’t really necessary in my opinion. Some of the dialogue was painful to get through (especially in the earlier episodes) but I think this improved over the episodes or perhaps I just got used to it. The flashbacks were also done in a chaotic way and I would have liked a more seamless transition during certain ones.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

Addicting with an insane twist worth sticking around for!

If you enjoy David E. Kelley and Harlan Coben-esque series, you’ll enjoy this one as well.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Anatomy of a Scandal in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen releases on November 12th 2020! Available for pre-order! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Review of “Riverdale” Season 5, Episode 13 on the CW: Riverdale goes Coyote Ugly on us

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up with the series.**

“I should have stabbed you harder when I had the chance…”

After Hiram Lodge’s origin story last week, we return to present day events with episode 13. Betty and Tabitha continue to work together to stop the mysterious trucker killer while some other new partnerships form as well.

Does Riverdale season 5 episode 13 get things back on track?

Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The team-up continues!

Betty and Tabitha really do make a good team and I was happy that we actually spent a lot of time on them in this week’s episode. Betty attempts to lure a possible suspect but winds up in a lot of trouble with a chainsaw, but luckily Tabitha shows up to help her out.

But, is this deranged trucker really the killer Betty has been looking for?

I’m not so sure, but it looks like things are going to get really interesting in next week’s episode when Betty decides to interrogate him.

Even though there were a lot of things that seemed ridiculous and unbelievable with these scenes, they were still entertaining and that’s what I’m looking for from this show.

The Coyote Ugly performance was a lot of fun!

Betty and Tabitha come up with an idea to put on a Coyote Ugly-esque performance to lure in potential trucker scum, allowing us to witness a showstopping number featuring Veronica, Betty, Tabitha and Cheryl!

I thought this was genius and finally the singing made sense!

Unlikely partnerships are in the air.

Cheryl and Kevin and Veronica and Reggie work together in this episode and I actually really liked the interactions here. It allowed some of the supporting characters a chance to get some air time without pushing the envelope too much.

I just don’t want to hear about Veronica being the “She Wolf of Wall Street” anymore…

The Cons:

Archie’s story-line…

Look I really like Archie, but these post-war flashbacks were beyond ridiculous. The acting was so bad in them so I could not take them seriously. As much as I want to support Archie with helping out rescue dogs in need (seriously loved this), I’m not sure I am buying the rest of it.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

I liked this episode a lot more than the last two I watched, but things are still spiraling out of control in terms of the plot. I think we need to focus more on the trucker mystery and Jughead’s potential disappearance and find something else for Archie to do in town…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Aftermath” on Netflix: Maybe now is not the best time to move…

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Give yourselves the gift of a new environment…”

Aftermath was released on August 4th 2021 on Netflix. The film stars Ashley Greene, Shawn Ashmore, Britt Baron and Freddie Basnight. It runs for approximately 1 hour and 54 minutes.

A young couple moves into a house with a bad history to give their marriage a chance, but a lot of disturbing things begin to happen once they move in.

Here is the trailer:

Aftermath is inspired by a true story, which makes this story even more terrifying. Netflix has been presenting us with a lot of horror entries lately, but is this one worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Unsettling and disturbing moments.

I thought this film did a great job of building up suspense during its creepy moments. There were some scenes that had me clenching my nails into my palms. This is one of those films that will have you looking over your shoulder, which is a good thing if you like haunted house/home invasion horror films.

Let’s just say I won’t be changing my address any time soon…

Horrifying reveal.

Sometimes reality can be even more frightening than the supernatural and I thought this film had a seamless balance that made you question everything you were seeing. The reveal was well done and just as terrifying as the rest of the movie. The pay-off is worth it in my opinion so stick around if you aren’t completely convinced during your watch.

The Cons:

Dragged out drama.

This movie was almost two hours long, which is way too long for a horror film in my opinion. I think that if the film had cut out a lot of the unnecessary drama in-between, it would have been a lot better. There was just too much of it and it weighed down the overall pace of the film.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

The creepy and terrifying moments are worth it in this film. I really was on the edge of my seat and if you are looking for a new haunted house/home invasion type of film, this one fits the bill. You just have to get through a lot of the tedious drama in-between to get to it.

Overall, this was a genuinely scary film and a decent watch if you enjoy horror films.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Aftermath in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Gossip Girl” Reboot on HBO Max: Why So Serious?

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Been a minute…did you miss me?”

The reboot of Gossip Girl premiered on HBO Max on July 8th 2021 with the first episode. The remaining nine episodes will air weekly. Each episode runs for approximately 55 minutes. The reboot stars Jordan Alexander, Whitney Peak, Tavi Gevinson, Eli Brown, and Emily Alyn Lind.

Kristen Bell returns as the voice of Gossip Girl, but the rest of the original cast do not. The Upper East Side is back on display as we follow a new group of teenage elites and witness them go to scandalous measures to get what they want while attending Constance Billard. The original Gossip Girl website may have shut down, but a new source emerges to keep the dirt coming.

Here is the trailer:

Gossip Girl (2021) has a lot to live up to as the original series was an entertaining guilty pleasure to indulge in. Are we ready for a reboot of the series and does it do enough to find a voice of its own? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A more diverse cast.

Much like the Saved by the Bell and Charmed reboots, we are presented with a more diverse cast for the reboot of Gossip Girl. I think this is a step in the right direction to be more inclusive this time around.

Sibling rivalry and a new Gossip Girl.

The main plot reminded me a little bit of One Tree Hill. We have half siblings who end up in the same school and drama is high as a result. I think this is the best part of the show so far and I’m interested to find out more about the true intentions of both siblings and how far they will go to keep up appearances.

We also get a twist on the new “Gossip Girl” and learn the identity right away. This takes us away from the outrageous reveal at the end of the original series and also gives us a chance to connect with a different set of characters that may see things a little bit differently. I’m intrigued by this so far.

A familiar voice to put us at ease.

It wouldn’t feel right with anyone else narrating the show as the infamous “Gossip Girl” and hearing Kristen Bell’s voice made me feel right at home. Sure, the dialogue is a little outrageous, but there was a much needed nostalgia present as a result, especially since the rest of the cast is absent…even though we get plenty of reminders and name drops along the way to keep us tuned in.

The Cons:

Don’t lose sight of what made the show work in the first place…

My biggest con with this reboot is that it takes itself way too seriously. The dialogue is beyond atrocious. I understand we are focusing on a new generation, but no one talks like this. While Riverdale presents us with some over-the-top dialogue as well, it still manages to keep us entertained because it knows when to lighten the mood even during some of the angst-filled melodrama.

In similar fashion, the original Gossip Girl worked because it was so outrageous and it embraced this. The cast really elevated the characters and made you care about them…even though they were horrible human beings!

Blair Waldorf is the iconic Queen Bee of television and even though Chuck Bass was beyond ridiculous, he was so entertaining to watch! The back-stabbing and twists just somehow worked because the show understood that it was meant to be a guilty pleasure teen drama.

The reboot is having an identity crisis and is taking itself too seriously, which makes the execution flat and uninspiring. I don’t care about any of the characters yet and it was honestly really difficult to watch a lot of the pilot episode, which is beyond disappointing.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I want to give this show a chance to get better because I am a fan of the original series. However, the majority of the pilot episode was painful to watch. I am going to give the show at least three episodes to change my mind, but it needs to really make some major changes if it wants to connect with a new generation and fans of the original series.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on the Gossip Girl reboot in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Predictions for the “Big Sky” Season Finale: What I’m Dying to See and More!

Happy Monday TV Fans! As we approach the season finale of Big Sky, there is quite a lot I want to see, but will we have time to address it all in the jam-packed finale?

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up with this series.**

Big Sky has quickly become one of my favorite shows and I am so thrilled that it has been picked up for season 2 already. That eases my mind about a cliffhanger that may never be resolved as we approach the finale.

We know that we can’t chase Ronald forever, but it’s really a lot of fun.

So, what can we expect from the season finale?

Based on what happened in the previous episode, it seems like things are pretty much wrapped up with the mystery surrounding Blake’s family. Justice was kind of served and it looks like Britt Robertson’s character will be the one calling the shots now, but I think it’s safe to say that this story has run its course.

Images courtesy of ABC

I’m honestly looking forward to a new mystery next season that has a little bit more edge like the initial one.

Let’s talk about Ronald…

Images courtesy of ABC

Whether you love him or hate him, there’s just something about Ronald, but I think he may be out of options at this point. Much like I predicted, his girlfriend has a dark side and may be even crazier than him, but based on the previews, it looks like Ronald is going to be locked up…at least temporarily.

So, where does that leave Jerrie?

Images courtesy of ABC

I desperately want to see Jerrie get her revenge on Ronald. Everyone needs to stop telling her what to do so she can see this through on her own. She deserves it and honestly I would really like to see the other girls return as well even though they haven’t appeared on the second half of the show.

Let’s let Jerrie shine and have her moment. Watch out, Ronald!

What else is Ronald hiding?

Images courtesy of ABC

We know that Ronald murdered his girlfriend’s sister, but that isn’t really much of a surprise for Dewell and Hoyt. We need something else…something unexpected. So, what is it?

Did Ronald take out an insurance policy in case he was caught?

I’m hoping for something really dark and twisted here, but we’ll have to wait and see.

I know that the Ronald story-line can’t last forever, but it’s a good one and maybe he can act as the new Hannibal Lecter when other serial killers start coming to town so he can stay involved with the show.

Either way, I’m excited to watch the season finale and I can’t wait to see more mysteries arrive at Dewell and Hoyt’s doorstep.

If you haven’t watched Big Sky yet, you can catch up now on ABC and on Hulu!

Feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Big Sky in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Secrets She Keeps” on AMC: Things are not as they seem…

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“I just can’t get you out of my head…”

The Secrets She Keeps originally premiered on Network 10 in April of 2020 and later was available to stream on Sundance Now. AMC is now airing the series with weekly episodes as of April 19th 2021. The Australian thriller series is set to air six weekly episodes. It stars Laura Carmichael, Jessica De Gouw, Michael Dorman, and Cariba Heine. Each episode runs for approximately 50-55 minutes.

Based on the novel of the same name, the show centers around two pregnant women who meet in a supermarket. After discovering their similarities, we start to piece together the secrets they are both holding as they become entangled in a web of deception.

Here is the trailer:

The Secrets She Keeps is a mystery thriller series that promises to keep you guessing at every turn. As pieces of the puzzle are revealed, we soon discover that nothing is as it seems. The plot is intriguing enough, but does this series do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of AMC

A mystery that draws you in.

The show immediately gave me a Single White Female kind of vibe and I loved that. Both women have past scars and secrets, but they also seem to be hiding a lot. Agatha clearly has some sort of obsession with Meghan and envies her life, but as we start to learn more about Agatha’s own past, things aren’t so clear cut, which makes this mystery that much more layered and intriguing to me.

Great acting.

Both of the female leads are fantastic and I actually really like both of their characters. They are believable and really embodied the real life fears and doubts of women everywhere. Pregnancy can be scary enough and they are also tackling so many other things, which makes this chance encounter between the two of them that much more important. I can’t wait to find out more!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of AMC

Somewhat predictable.

I predicted some of the initial reveals, but I think that as the series progresses, it will keep me guessing. It’s hard to keep that suspense going and I think the series is doing a good job of bringing us back for more, but I hope it doesn’t lean too heavily on obvious reveals.

I’m keeping an open mind!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of AMC

I’m in!

The Secrets She Keeps is exactly the kind of thriller I enjoy. It may be borderline Lifetime-esque, but it has enough going on to keep me coming back for more. I’m confident that the reveals will become harder to guess as the episodes progress and I’m excited to watch the remaining episodes to see this plot unfold!

If you enjoy shows like Who Killed Sara? and The Stranger, you will feel right at home with this series and I’m really excited it is finally airing in the United States!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Secrets She Keeps in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Mare of Easttown” on HBO Max: Compelling new Mystery

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

Kate Winslet returns to the small screen!

Mare of Easttown premiered on HBO and HBO Max on April 18th 2021. The series is set to air seven weekly episodes. It stars Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Angourie Rice, Guy Pearce, and Evan Peters. Each episode runs for approximately 50-55 minutes.

Kate Winslet stars as Mare, a local small town basketball hero who now is a detective. A new case is thrown her way that connects to an unresolved mystery from her past, involving the daughter of one of her former teammates. As Mare attempts to deal with the harsh reality of her own life, she tries to put the pieces together to solve this mystery.

Here is the trailer:

Mare of Easttown presents us with a bleak view on life, but its intricate details and compelling plot draw us in to this new mystery as we attempt to discover the truth along with Kate Winslet’s character. Is the series worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Kate Winslet delivers.

I’m already a huge fan of Kate Winslet and she is one of my favorite actresses of all time. In just the pilot episode, she has managed to completely captivate the audience with her gritty portrayal of Mare.

Mare is far from perfect and she is dealing with a lot in her life, as we slowly start to unravel some of the tragedy that has taken place in her past.

I’ve seen a lot of shows featuring a small town detective immersed in a compelling mystery, but sometimes they can get lost in the midst of the plot.

That doesn’t happen here. Kate Winslet is so magnetic on screen and even in the quiet moments, you find yourself drawn to her, which makes this show that much more interesting in my opinion.

She is the one drawing us in and the mystery almost takes a back seat.

Incredible story-telling.

Every detail of this show is so well done. Even though there is this dark and depressing undertone, it doesn’t overwhelm the show. Every character and every moment shown to the audience is important in some way.

I often get bored with some of the set-up and fluff, but I didn’t feel that way here. I thought that everything was really interesting and when we finally got to the reveal at the end of the pilot episode, I was completely immersed into this show.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Slow burn approach.

This isn’t necessarily a con to me at all. I actually think that the slow burn approach works with this particular show because Kate Winslet is so strong and the other performances really hold up as well.

However, if you are looking for a fast paced action thriller, you won’t get that here. I think that the slow burn reveals are rewarding enough and I can’t wait to learn more, but prepare for a slower pace overall.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

Mare of Easttown is gritty, compelling, and all consuming. It is already so interesting and intriguing with just the pilot episode and I can’t wait to find out more. Kate Winslet is incredible and I can already see an Emmy in her future…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Mare of Easttown in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Checking in on “Fear the Walking Dead” Season 6: Game Changer

Happy Wednesday TV Fans! When we last checked in on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, Virginia was still running things while Morgan started to gather his people at his new potential home.

I’ve been waiting for Fear TWD to find its edge again. That raw intense one it had in the very beginning of the series. After several seasons of singing kumbaya without any major character deaths, I was beginning to lose hope.

And then season 6, episode 8 aired which was a complete game changer for the series.

**Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

In season 6, episode 8, we check in on John Dorie, who has really lost his will to live. He contemplates taking his own life, but Morgan and Dakota show up to try and get him to come with them.

Morgan was in a very similar situation a while back and John Dorie was the one to give him the motivation to live again so Morgan tries to do the same for his friend.

Images courtesy of AMC

Although John Dorie was introduced later in the series, he quickly became a fan favorite. He always saw the good in people and refused to change his moral compass even though the world has changed, which can be a good thing and a bad thing.

His relationship with June was one of the most beautiful ones I have ever witnessed on a show and there is an authentic and real quality to their marriage. It is far from perfect and both of them have run away from their mistakes before, but they always find a way back to each other.

As we fast forward through the episode, John agrees to help Morgan and Dakota clear the bridge but he wants to be left in peace after that. Morgan takes matters into his own hands and radios to Virginia where John is so that he doesn’t have a choice, explaining that he is not going to sit by and let his best friend die.

Images courtesy of AMC

After a few close calls with the horde, it looked like we were right back where we started again and then Dakota decided to show her true colors.

John sees the knife that Dakota uses on a walker and realizes that she was the one who killed Cameron. Dakota explains that he ruined her way out and now she needs to continue to keep her secret…

After John puts away his own weapon, Dakota shoots John in the chest and pushes him over the bridge.

We get this incredible moment where John is drifting to the bottom of the water but sees the photo of him and his dad and it is enough to motivate him to make it to the surface.

Morgan confronts Dakota and we find out that she was the one who initially saved Morgan’s life because she thinks that he is the only one who can actually kill her sister.

Morgan radios over to Virginia and tells them to look for John in the water and that he might need help and of course poor June is there.

June discovers John in the water and he has already turned. In a heart shattering moment, she stabs him in the head, which really had my emotions stirring.

Images courtesy of AMC

While this is an incredibly heartbreaking moment, this needed to happen.

We needed a major character death to remind us that this is a show about the zombie apocalypse. While I appreciate the messages of hope, there has to be something that truly motivates the rest of the group to stand up against Virginia and this is it.

When you think about the other characters on the show, it had to be John to go. He was the representation of all that is good in the world and when he changed his mind about ending his life, this death became that much more tragic to me.

I also think that Dakota showing her true colors is a game changer. I was honestly getting tired of the Virginia plot and Dakota may be an even more dangerous threat. She’s clearly a sociopath and it goes to show us how dangerous children can be growing up in this world.

Look at Lydia in TWD. She grew up with a monstrous mother and still managed to turn things around, but she could have easily fallen off the deep end. Dakota is the other end of the spectrum and I am really intrigued by this plot and I have to give it to the writers who really made this twist and reveal work in their favor.

As long as Fear TWD continues on this new path, they will be able to reclaim those moments of sheer perfection I witnessed earlier in the series.

Keep it going, Fear TWD! I can’t wait to see what happens now!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fear TWD in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 10: “The Pincushion Man”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 10, I learned that when people are dying, you sometimes need to make time for a term paper.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Six: The Pincushion Man,” Betty and Alice’s party is crashed by some familiar faces. Meanwhile, Jughead and Tabitha grow closer, but it looks like Betty may be the only one truly on his mind, and Veronica’s ex is determined to make her life a living hell.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 10 are:

“You follow the order.”

Archie is surprised to hear that his commanding officer wants to present with him with the Silver Eagle award because he doesn’t feel right about what happened on the mission. We later discover that perhaps this was a dirty mission after all and Archie doesn’t feel right about just following orders.

We know that Archie is always going to stand up for what he feels is right, but is he in over his head here?

“You don’t owe him anything.”

Chadwick rears his annoying head and Veronica decides to go out to New York for closure. She talks more about the helicopter crash and tells Archie that she initially wished for Chad to die and feels horrible about what happened. Archie reminds Veronica that she doesn’t owe Chad anything, but she feels like she needs to do this.

Meanwhile, Chadwick has a romantic dinner at home planned for her and tries to bring some nostalgia to their final date, which leads to some extremely poor decisions by Veronica. They kiss and more is implied, but what about Archie?

Also, you are the “She-Wolf” of Wall Street, but you couldn’t tell that Chadwick was playing you?

Chadwick reveals later that he made some bad investment decisions that involve Veronica’s company and that if she divorces him, he will sue her. I can’t say that I am surprised by these actions, but now Veronica is stuck staying in New York to handle things.

Chadwick is a mini Hiram, but Veronica needs to step up her game so she can truly move on with her life.

Your move, V.

“There is no curse.”

We get to witness a lovely date between Cheryl and Minerva as she takes her out to the maple groves, but we discover that they are dry and Nana Rose tells her it’s because of the curse.

Cheryl is determined to point out that there is no curse as she is finally taking ownership back of her life. Later on, Reggie and Hiram make amends and Nana Rose sells the groves to them, but apparently this deal is void because Cheryl had her declared senile years ago.

Reggie decides to light the groves on fire, but maybe the curse is real after all…

The Blossom ladies pray for wind and not all of the groves are damaged.

But, why does Hiram want to control them and what is the deal with Reggie?

As much as I like to see Cheryl happy, I also am still rooting for Choni in the end. Let’s just hope it’s not too late for them.

“Let’s just be friends.”

In the beginning of the episode we see Jughead and Tabitha dancing at Pop’s and they actually share a kiss. However, Jughead tells her that his life is complicated and wants to just be friends, which Tabitha actually seems OK with.

Meanwhile, Jughead needs to produce some pages and tells her that he needs to do some “Maple Mushrooms” so he can write something brilliant. I’m not making this stuff up…

Tabitha handcuffs Jughead to his desk so he can get some work done and checks in on him periodically, but Jughead’s trippy hallucinations reveal that he is not over Betty just yet as we actually get a steamy and passionate Bughead scene.

The hallucinations turn bloody; however, as Jughead then starts seeing the Mothman and Tabitha later finds his bloody handcuffs left on the desk and Jughead has disappeared.

So, what did Jughead see?

Was he truly taken by something or did he wander off on his drug trip?

We’ll have to wait to find out, but this mystery surrounding Jughead is getting weirder and weirder.

At least we had that Bughead scene though and I actually really feel bad for Tabitha. She has a lot of patience!

“Let’s just get through whatever this is.”

Easier said than done, Alice. We find out more about Glen as we discover that he is actually writing his dissertation on serial killers in the Cooper family. Betty is extremely upset and rightfully so and Glen gets a slap in the face.

However, that’s not all. After Hiram decides to shake things up with an intentional prison break, we start to remember just how many family members are locked up behind bars. Uncle Frank helps out Archie and Penelope is back in the fold, but Charles and Chic have some serious plans.

They break up the birthday party for the twins and want to be married by Alice and she actually begins the ceremony. You gotta love Alice.

Glen walks in with bad timing and Charles decides that he wants to play “The Pincushion man” and wants one of the twins to stab Glen.

Betty tries to get him to see reason and says that she will do it to spare the innocence of her niece and nephew. Betty actually stabs Glen, but purposely gives him a flesh wound and turns the tables on Chic and Charles.

We know that Glen and Charles both went to the hospital and Betty is still motivated to find out what happened to Polly even though the case has been re-assigned.

Is Polly still alive?

I’m thinking so and I can’t wait to follow Betty on this journey, but we’re going to have to wait a while for a new episode.

This was a jam-packed mid-season finale, but I still have so many questions that will remain unanswered for quite a while.

New episodes return August 11th!

Stay tuned, Riverdale fans!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 8: “Lock & Key”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 8, I learned that the “more things change, the more they stay EXACTLY the same.”

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Four: Lock & Key,” Cheryl decides to throw a key party to throw a little chaos at the drama brewing between the group. Meanwhile, Kev and Fangs contemplate the future of their relationship, Veronica wants a change, and Betty and Alice get a disturbing phone call.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 8 are:

“I lost a lot of time.”

The extreme weirdness continues with Jughead’s plot as he begins to hallucinate. He thinks he is seeing the alien specimen lurking around, but is it all in his head?

Jughead even joins a support group to talk about it, but he decides to walk away from it when things get to be too much.

Just like I predicted, Tabitha clearly likes Jughead and even suggests that they go out on a normal date, but Jughead is too much in his head to even really hear her and decides to get drunk instead.

Tabitha actually may be the right choice for Jughead, but he has to get his addiction under control before he screws up this opportunity for good.

Or I guess some alien will take him away and probe him…

“What in the actual….”

Yep. You took the words right out of my mouth, Cheryl. Another theory of mine came true when we learned that Toni is actually the surrogate for Kev and Fangs. Cheryl is floored by the news, but Toni tries to tell her that she still cares about her deeply.

Cheryl’s stubbornness shines through; however, as she decides to throw a key party instead to shake things up. Everyone has to pick someone’s key in a bowl and have at it with their wildest dreams and fantasies.

Images courtesy of The CW

Parties don’t go so well at Cheryl’s house so I already could see the chaos swirling around everyone. Cheryl and Toni do end up picking one another, but Toni is upset by Cheryl’s behavior. Cheryl tries to surprise her with a nursery at Thornhill, but Toni reminds her that she doesn’t want her and her baby to stay locked away from everything and apologizes for leading her on.

Even though the Choni fan in me is rooting for these two to get together, things take time and it looks like Cheryl will be busy with Minerva. If Minerva looks familiar, it’s because she played Agatha on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina so I’m always happy to see a familiar face pop up in the Archie universe.

“A window of light in the dark.”

Even though the beginning of the episode presented us with some hot and steamy scenes between Barchie, these two are having mixed feelings once again. Archie tells Betty that he does still have lingering feelings for Veronica (really?) and Betty tells him that she needs to focus on Polly’s disappearance and she doesn’t want to bring Archie into her darkness.

It’s clear that these two will still remain friends, but I can’t say that I’m not disappointed. I don’t think we were given enough time to actually explore this relationship after seven years and now it seems like we’re right back where we started again…

“I will be fighting fire with fire.”

Veronica wants a change and she starts by having her entire apartment redone to really spark this change. But the real change Veronica is looking for is within her marriage. After Chadwick forces them to leave the party early, Veronica asks for a divorce because she is also not over Archie and these two are back together again?

Images courtesy of The CW

I’m sure the Varchie fan is excited for this, but I honestly thought this felt extremely rushed and out of place. Whether Archie has feelings for Veronica or not, he was just with Betty and I appreciate that he told Veronica about that, which shows that he has matured in some ways.

But on the other hand, Veronica is still married. She didn’t get divorced overnight and I have a feeling that Chadwick is going to team up with Hiram somehow to bring forth more drama and destruction.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you Varchie…

“She’s alive.”

Betty continues to deal with nightmares surrounding TBK, but we still have some time before we explore that plot fully. Meanwhile, Alice tells Betty that she received a call from Polly, but Betty is not so sure.

Images courtesy of The CW

Later in the episode, Betty actually picks up the call and Polly asks for their help, claiming she is on the side of the Lost Highway. Betty and Alice rush out to help her (with no back-up). This is when FP would really come in handy…

Only they don’t find Polly, but the phone booth she was in is broken and filled with blood.

We know that Polly was alive, but is this really it for her or is there still a chance that Betty can catch this roadside killer before it’s too late?

I’m ready to find out and next week’s episode looks fantastic already. We need a Betty-centric episode now!

Stay tuned, Riverdale fans!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

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